Wall-mountable electric heater and housing assembly therefor



G. STELNGRUBER wALL-MoUNTABLE ELECTRIC HEATER Oct. 13, 1953 INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 1l 1951 G. STEINGRUBER WALL-MOUNTABLEELECTRIC HEATER AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Oct. 13, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May ll 1951 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 WALL-MOUNTABLEELECTRIC HEATER AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY THEREFoR George Steingruber,Atlanta,` Ga.; Minnie Baas Steingruber, executrix of said GeorgeSteingruber, deceased Application May 11, 1951, Serial No. 225,822

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to space heaters of the electricallyheated, forced air-circulating type, and more particularly to a spaceheater adapted to be mounted in the wall of a building.

Small electric heaters have been found to be highly desirable forpurposes of supplementing the conventional heating system with whichmost buildings are provided, or for heating the desired rooms ofbuildings located in the warmer sections of the country, and which areoften lacking in proper or adequate heating facilities during unusuallycold weather.

It is not always desirable or practical to have a heater of theconventional portable type in each room of a house, apartment or thelike, due to the fact that these heaters do not always blend with thefurnishings of every room, or there is not ample space in the room foran additional piece of furniture.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean electrically operated air-circulating space heater which is socompactly constructed as to be readily mountable in an existing buildingwall, partition or the like, and which will not project any Substantialor unsightly distance into the room.

A further object is to provide a wall-mountable electric space heater ofimproved construction which is both compact and eliicient, and which isneat and attractive inappearance, as well as exceedingly simple inform,l so asV to be relatively inexpensive in cost of production andcost of operation.

In carrying out the foregoi-ng general aims of the invention, myimproved heater is so con-- structed as to utilize to maximum advantagethe; combination of radiated, reilected and circulated heat in such amanner as to produce a continuous flow of warm air in suflicient volumeto heat` a room of substantial size.

In addition to producing circulation of heated air by convectioncurrents in substantial and effective volume, I also preferably providefor forced circulation of the heated air by a powerdriven fan which isso constructed asto occupy a minimum of space, and which is soarrangedwith respect to the heater construction that the cool air drawn into theheater will act to prevent overheating of the power source for the fan.k

A further object is to provide a space heater having the foregoingadvantages and which may be utilized as an air-circulating fanwithoutheating the air, for use in warm weather, thus avoiding anynecessity for a separate circulating. fan,

2 as is particularly desirable in the warmer sections of the country.

Still another `object is to provide a novel and improved heater casingof sheet metal construction, together with a novel and improved assemblyof air-circulating and heating elements within the casing, which attainthe objects and advantages aforementioned.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter described, and the novel features thereof defined in theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a space heater made inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View, elevation and partly in section,cover-plate shown in broken lines, and showing onel illustrativeinstallation of the heater in a building wall, partition or the like;and,

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section, as taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, but with the front cover-plate shown in full lines.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the severalgures of the drawings, wherein I generally denotes a pair oflongitudinally extended, spaced, parallel wall or partition studs havinga pair of transversely extended, parallel framemembersy 2 disposedtherebetween to form a substantially rectangular, framed opening adaptedto receive a heater construction therein.

The heater construction, for purposes of illustration, comprises asubstantially rectangular, recessed outer housing or casing having arear' wall 4, parallel top and bottom walls 5, 6' respectively, andparallel side walls 7, 8 respectively, this housing preferably beingformed from a single piece of sheet metal. The outer marginal edges ofthe walls 5', 5, I and 8 of the housing 3 are turned outwardly atapproximately a right angle to form marginal attachment flanges thereon,as indicated at 9, and are retroverted', as at I 0, to rein-force theattachment flanges, andv butt up against the studs or frame members I, 2in order to properly position the housing 3V Within the opening denedthereby. The attachment flanges 9 are provided with a suitable numpartlyin front with the front ber of openings therethrough which are adaptedto receive a corresponding number of anchor fastenersy I I for securingthe housingV 3` within then-ame members I, 2.

Located within the housing 3- isan inner casing or shell I2 whichV ispreferably substantially Isquare or rectangular in horizontal sectionand defines an air heating chamber, the lateral sides of the shell beingextended above the front and rear sides thereof and diverging upwardlyto form a pair of hanger plates I3, I4 having their upper marginal edgesturned outwardly to form flanges I5, I which are secured to the top wall5 of the housing 3, as by means of a suitable number of fasteners I1,but slightly spaced therefrom to provide an air space between the innershell and the top wall 5 of the outer housing 3, the fasteners I1 beingpreferably locked to the wall 5 by means of lock nuts I8.

Adjacent to the lower end thereof, the inner shell I2 is rigidlyanchored by means of a screw fastener I9 which is locked to the rearwall 4 of the housing 3 by a lock nut 20, the fastener I3 extendingthrough the rear wall of the shell I2 which is clamped between the clampnuts 2l in spaced relation to the rear wall 5 of the housing 3 toprovide an air space therebetween.

An air-directing or deflecting top plate 22 is secured to the upper rearedge of the shell I2, as at 23, and extends angularly upwardly towardthe front of the housing 3 to a point just below the uppermost flangesI5, I6 on the sides I3, I4 of shell I2, the free end of the deflectorplate 22 having a horizontally disposed flange 24. The lateral edges ofthe deflector plate 22 diverge at an angle towards the flange 24 so asto be in contact with the upwardly diverging sides I3, I4 of the innershell I2, thus completing a hollow openended air tube or heating chamberwhich is adapted to direct air out into a room in a manner which willhereinafter become more apparent.

A pair of transverse struts 25, 2S are respectively extended across theupper and lower ends of the body of the inner shell I2, the oppositeends of each of the struts 25, 26 being offset as at 21, 28 and attachedto the shell I2 by means of screw fasteners 29 which project through theends 21, 28 of the struts and through the walls of the shell I2, withnuts 3Q clamping these parts together.

The lower strut centrally thereof is provided with a pair of spacednotches 3l and an intermediate lug 32 adapted to support one end of ahollow porcelain or other insulated tube 33. The upper strut 25 has aresilient member 34 secured thereto adjacent one end thereof, the member34 preferably being formed from a single piece of resilient metal so asto provide a U-shaped end 35 adapted to straddle the strut 25 and to besecured thereto by means of a screw fastener 36 or the like. Projecteddownwardly from the plane of the strut 25 and horizontally extended fromthe U-shaped end 35 of the member 34 is a flat plate 31 having itscenter so punched out as to form an annular bead 38 adapted to engagethe upper end of the porcelain tube 33, as is best seen in Figure 2, thefree end 34 of the member` 34 being turned upwardly to within a shortdistance of the lower edge of the strut 25, or into firm engagementtherewith as may be preferred.

The advantages of the just-described tube supporting construction aremanifest, since the porcelain tube 33 may be readily removed forreplacement by merely lifting the same againstlthe pressure of theresilient member 34 a sufficient distance to lift the bottom end of thetube free of the centering lug 32 and the notches 3l of the lower strut26 and then pulling the tube from between the struts, as is apparent.Furthermore, the resilient member 34 absorbs any shocks to the tube 33during transportation of the heater assembly to a point of installation,but at the same time, the resilient member 34 holds the tube in placeand against displacement due to such shocks. Still further, the tube 33is subject to expansion and contraction when the heater is turned on andoff respectively, and the resilient member 34 compensates for suchexpansion and contraction to prevent damage to the tube 33.

Disposed about the outer periphery of the porcelain tube 33 is anelectric heating or resistance coil 33' which is connected to a pair ofconnectors 33 which are suitably insulated from the shell I2 in whichthey are secured in a suitable manner, as at 39, the connectors 38 beingin turn electrically connected with a suitable switch 4I! by a pair ofwires diagrammatically shown at 4 I. The switch 40 is connected to asource of electric current supply by an extension cord 42. The extensioncord 42 is suitably secured in the side wall 1 of the housing 3, as at43 and is connected to the switch by a pair of lead wires 44. rihus, theelectric circuit through the heating coil or resistance 33 may beselectively completed or broken by the switch 40, as is readily apparentupon reference to Figure 2.

Coming now to the means for forcing circulation of air through the shellI2, I provide a socalled squirrel cage or centrifugal fan 45 having acoaxially extended shaft 46 disposed beneath the inner shell I2. Theshaft 46 is operatively connected at one end with a suitable powersource or electric motor 41, the opposite end being journalled in abearing 48. The bearing 48 is suitably mounted on a hanger bracket 49 asat 50, and the motor is mounted in axial alignment with the bearing 48on a second hanger bracket 5I, by means of bolts 52 or the like. Thehanger brackets 4S, 5I are each detachably supported at the lower end ofthe inner shell I2 by means of screws 53 or the like extending throughthe opposed lateral walls of the inner shell I2, the upper ends of thehanger brackets each being provided with a pair of bayonet slots 54 forquick mounting and demounting of the fan-motor assembly.

The use of a centrifugal fan for forcing circulation of air is oneimportant feature of the present invention, since this type of fanrequires a minimum of space, but will circulate a maximum of air for thespace utilized, the space limitations for wall-mounted heaters beingquite small, usually about 3 to 4 inches, due to the relatively shallowdepth of building walls and partitions. Thus, a fan of any substantialsize would necessitate a housing that projects a substantial distanceoutwardly from the wall in which the heater is mounted. On the otherhand, if a conventional fan having radial blades were to be utilized inthe maximum space required by the heater of this invention, the fanwould not be capable of circulating a sufficient volume of air. Myheater projects into a room only a slight distance, viz. the depth ofthe front cover plate C which will be hereinafter described, this coverplate being preferably about one inch in over-all depth.

As seen in Figure 2, electric current is supplied to the motor by way ofthe conductors diagrammatically indicated at 54, which are connected inparallel with the switch 40 and the heater coil 33', as at 55. A secondswitch 56 mounted on the side wall 8 of the housing 3 is interposed inthe motor circuit for selectively completing or breaking the motorcircuit as is apparent.

While the electric circuits for energizing the heater coil 33 and themotor 41 have been diagrammatically shown as being in parallel, it willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the circuits may bevaried without departing from the spirit of this invention.

For directing the maximum volume of air circulated by the fan upwardlythrough the shell I2, there is provided a baille or director plate 51which is secured to the lower end of the shell I2, as at 51', andextends downwardly beneath the fan 45, and thence upwardly on the otherside of the fan to a position closely adjacent to the lower end of theshell l2 (see Fig. 3 particularly).

At the upper end of the inner shell I2, I provide a removable grill orclosure 58 for the shell I2, this grill having a portion of its loweredge olfset slightly to form a shoulder 59 adapted to engage the upperedge of the inner shell I2, and a flange 60 adapted to engage behind theupper edge of the shell I2, as is best seen in Figure 3. The upper sideof the grill 58 is bent inwardly at a right angle to the body of thegrill to form a flange 6I having a marginal flange 62 thereon directedslightly downwardly, the anges 6I, B2 forming means for engaging theflange 24 of the deflector plate 22 to releasably secure the grill 58 inthe position shown in Figures 1 and 3. The grill 58 is easily applied bymerely placing the shoulder 59 and flange 60 in engagement with theshell I2 and then snapping the upper flanges 6I, 62 over the flange 24of the deector plate 22 as permitted by the inherent resilience of thesheet metal parts.

A front cover plate C is secured to the attachment flanges 9 of thehousing 3 by means of a suitable number of sheet metal screw fasteners63 or the like. This cover plate comprises a flat front portion having adesired number of openings 64 therethrough arranged to provide anydesired aesthetic effect and allowing free flow of air therethrough. Themarginal edge of the cover plate C is turned rearwardly to form a flange65 therearound which is adapted to butt up against the wall in which theheater is mounted, as is best seen in Figure 3. Adjacent to the upperend thereof, the cover plate C is provided with a relatively largeopening 66 which substantially conforms in size and shape with theremovable grill 58, and the cover plate C is further provided with apair of openings 61 through which the operating arms of the switches 40,56 project so as to be readily accessible.

The operation of the space heater will now be described.

Assuming that the switches 40, 56 are each closed to energize the heatercoil 33 and the fan motor 41, the fan 45 will draw cool air into thehousing 3 through the openings B4 in the cover plate C, this air being,for the most part, drawn into the fan at its ends due to the curvedbaffle plate 51, thus maintaining the motor 41 cool during prolongedperiods of operation. The air is then directed into the lower end of theinner .shell I2 and upwards therethrough where it is heated by the heatradiated from the element 33', as well as by the heat reflected from theside walls of the shell I2. The air is then deflected by the plate 22and directed outwardly through the grill 58. Since cool air is free toenter the housing throughout its entire height, this cool air, in beingdrawn into the fan, will pass through the air spaces between the housing3 and the inner shell I2 in such a manner as to avoid any pocketing ofexcessive heat therebetween.

It should be understood that when less heat is desired, electric currentto the fan may be cut off and warm air will continue to circulate due toconvection currents within the inner shell I2 in suicient volume to warma room under moderate temperature conditions or to warm a small room.Therefore, it is apparent that, if desired, the heater of this inventionmay be availed of for some installations, minus the fan, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Moreover, if desired, the fan may be operated independently of theheating means to provide for circulation of unheated air, andaccordingly, this invention may be availed of for some installations,minus the heating instrumentalities without departing from the spiritthereof.

While the specific details of one embodiment of the invention have beenherein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto aschanges and alterations may be made without departing from the spiritthereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A space heater of the class described, comprising a housing, aunitary inner shell mounted in said housing and forming an innerairheating chamber, said shell being spaced from said housing on all ofits sides, air-heating means mounted in said chamber, air-circulatingmeans disposed beneath the inner shell for forcing circulation of airthrough said chamber, means at the upper end of said chamber fordirecting air forced through the chamber to the exterior of saidhousing, and said housing having means for directing relatively cool airinto the same responsive to the circulating means, said air-circulatingmeans comprising a centrifugal fanmotor assembly supported by said innershell, said fan motor assembly comprising a pair of spaced bracketsconnected to said shell, a centrifugal fan having a shaft rotatablyjournalled at one of its ends in one of said brackets, the opposite endof said shaft being operatively connected with an electric motor, saidmotor being supported on the other of said brackets, and means forsupplying electric current to said motor.

2. A space heater of the class described, comprising a housing, aunitary inner shell mounted in said housing and forming an innerairheating chamber, said shell being spaced from said housing on all ofits sides, air-heating means mounted in said chamber, air-circulatingmeans disposed beneath the inner shell for forcing circulation of airthrough said chamber, means at the upper end of said chamber fordirecting air forced through the chamber to the exterior of saidhousing, and said housing having means for directing relatively cool airinto the same responsive to the circulating means, said air-directingmeans at the upper end of said chamber including a pair of side memberson said inner shell extended upwardly beyond the body of the shell, saidside members being secured to the housing aforesaid and constitutinghanger supports for said shell.

3. A space heater of the class described, comprising a housing, aunitary inner shell mounted in said housing and forming an innerair-heating chamber, said shell being spaced from said housing on all ofits sides, air-heating means mounted in said chamber, air-circulatingmeans disposed beneath the inner shell for forcing circulation of airthrough said chamber, means at the upper end of said chamber fordirecting air forced through the chamber to the exterior of saidhousing, and said housing having means for `directing relatively coolair Vinto the same re sponsive to the circulating means, saidair-directing means at the upperend of said chamber including a pair ofside members on said inner shell extending upwardly beyond the body ofthe shell,

said side members being secured to the housing va heating chambe-rdisposed within said housing in spaced relation to the sides, back,bottom, and top of the latter to form an air space between the shell andthe housing, an electric heating element .disposed within the shell, adeiiectcr plate at the top of the shell, a fan-motor assembly carried bysaid shell beneath the same for forcing air upwardly through the innershell so as to be heated therein andl for drawing relatively cool airinto the housing, at least some of the air being drawn through the airspace between the housing and shell, the heated air being deiiectedoutwardly from said housing by said defiector plate, and -means forselectively energizing the heating element; and fan-motor, saidfan-motor assembly including a centrifugal fan having a fan-bladed rotorof the squirrel-cage type.

5. A space heater of the class described, cornprising a housing closedat its opposite sides, back, bottom and topy and provided with anopening at its front, a front cover plate disposed across said openingand being provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, a unitaryshell dening a heating chamber disposed Within said housing in spacedrelation to the sides, back, bottom, and top of the latter to form anair space between the shell and the housingy an electric heating elementdisposed within the shell, a deector plate at the top'of the shell, afan-motor assembly carried by said shell beneath the same for forcingair upwardly through the inner shell so as to be heated therein-and 4fordrawing relatively cool/air into the housing, at least some of the airbeing drawn through the air space between the housing and `shell,theheated air being deflected outwardly `from said housing by saidde'lector plate, and

means ior selectively 'energizing the heating element and ian-motor,said fan-motor assembly including a centrifugal vfan having a fan-bladedrotor or" the squirre1-cage type, said inner shell being provided at itslower end with means for directing air from the fan into said shell.

-6. Aspace heater of the class described, comprising a housing closedatits opposite sides, back,

bottom and top, and provided with an opening at its front, a iront coverplate disposed across said opening and being provided with a pluralityof openingstherethrough, a unitary shell deiining a heating chamberdisposed within saidhousing in ,spaced relation to the sides, back,bottom, and

top of the latter to form an air space -between the shell and thehousing, an electric heating element disposed within the shell, adeilectorI plate at the top ofthe shell, a fan-'motor assemblycar- Yriedby said shell beneath the same for forcing air upwardly through theinner shell so=as`to vbe heated-thereinand for drawing relativelycoolair into the housing, at least some of the air being drawn through theair space between the housing and shell, the heated air being deflectedoutwardly from said housing by said deector plate, and means forselectively energizing theheating element and fan-motor,said fan-motorassembly comprising a pair of spaced hanger brackets de- `and being openat the front, an inner shell dening-an air-#heating chamber mountedwithin the :housing in spaced'relation to the sides, bottom,

ltop, and' back. of the housing and forming an :air space betweentheshell and the housing, air

`dei'lecting means at -theupper end of the shell Ifor :directing airthrough the open front ofthe housing, means for supporting an electricheaterA elem`ent within said shell," means for supporting an velectricmotor-operated fanwithin said housing .below the shell, and a frontcover plate secured'on Asaid housing, said housing including anattachment flange disposed about the housing and adapted tobe secured'ina framedopening in the wall of a room, said cover plate Vbeing securedto said attachment fiange and having its marginal edge turned rearwardlyfor abutting contact Aagainst the wall when the vassembly Vis installed.

il.r A space heater housing assembly of the class described, comprisinga housing adapted to be recessed in a Wall of a room, said housing beingclosed at its opposite sides, bottomy .topyand bacia, and being open atthe front, an inner shell dening'an air-heating chamber vmounted withinthe housing in spaced relation to the sides, bottom, top, 'and backofthe housingand forming an air space `between the shell and thehousing,

`airideiiecting means at the'upper end of the shell for directing airthrough the open front of the housing, means for supporting an electricheater element within said shell, means for supporting attachmentflange.

9. A space heater housing assembly of the class described, comprising Aahousing adapted to .be

recessedfina wall-oa room, said housing being closedat its oppositesides,'bottom, top, and back, and being'op'enrat the front, an'inner`shell defining'an'air-heatingchamber mounted within the housing inspaced relation to the sides, bottom, top, and :back of the housingand'forming an air :space between theshell and the housing, air de-`fleeting means atl 'theupper endof `the shell for 'directing airthrough the open front of thehous- -ingflneans for'supporting-anelectric heater element'within said shell, means for supporting an:electric motor-operated fan'within said housing :below the shell, -andafront rcoverV plate secured onsaid housing, said inner shell'includinga pair of upwardly extended sides secured to the top of the housing 'forsupporting. the shell therein, said air fdefiecting means comprising aforwardly vin 9 clined plate extending forwardly and upwardly from thetop rear wall of the shell and transversely spanning the upwardlyextended sides of the shell to form an air outlet between the top edgeof the shell and the deflector plate.

10. A space heater housing assembly of the class described, comprising ahousing adapted to be recessed in a wall of a room, said housing beingclosed at its opposite sides, bottom, top, and back, and being open atthe front, an inner shell defining an air-heating chamber mounted withinthe housing in spaced relation to the sides, bottom, top, and back ofthe housing and forming an air space between the shell and the housing,air deflecting means at the upper end of the shell for directing airthrough the open front of the housing, means for supporting an electricheater element Within said shell, means for supporting an electricmotor-operated fan within said housing below the shell, and a frontcover plate secured on said housing, said inner shell including a pairof upwardly extended sides, means securing said upwardly extended sidesto the top of the housing GEORGE STEINGRUBER.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,644,595 Karg Oct. 4, 1927 1,754,232 Fisher Apr, 15, 19301,926,537 Hoffman Sept. 12, 1933 1,982,139 Kercher Nov. 27, 19342,007,102 Wallace e July 2, 1935 2,379,705 Graves July 3, 1945 2,405,783Gardenhour Aug. 13, 1946

